2013 Events and Programs Guide

EVENTS AND PROGRAMS GUIDE

CHAMPAIGN

COUNTY

CHAMBER of COMMERCE

2013

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

EVENTS

FIRST FRIDAY COFFEE

ATHENA Awards Gala, Feb. 21 2013 SchmoozaPalooza Business Expo, April 10 Golf Outing, June 7 Come Wine With Us, June 20 2012 Annual Meeting, TBA Jan. 4 Feb. 1 Mar. 1 April 5 May 3 June 7 Aug. 2 Oct. 4 Nov. 1 Dec. 6

Sunset Funeral Home Hawthorn Suites Attorneys’ Title Guarantee Fund Singleton Law Office Pepsi Cola Clark Lindsey Village Hawthorn Suites Parkland College Student Services Center Atkins Group First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust

EXCHANGE & REFERRAL NETWORK (EARN) All EaRN events are held at the Chamber Jan. 10 March 14 May 9

July 11 Sept. 12 Nov. 14

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS Parkland College Deans Graphics Hilton Garden Inn Bridlebrook Adult Community Eastland Suites Come Wine With Us, Farm Credit Services of Illinois July 18 Provena Medical Complex Aug. 15 Farnsworth Group Sept. 19 Fighting Illini Energy, location TBA Oct. 17 Meyer Capel Nov. 21 Spectrum Dec. 19 Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Jan. 17 Feb. 21 Mar. 21 April 18 May 16 June 20

CHAMBER OFFICE CLOSEDED May 27 - Memorial Day July 4 - Independence Day Sept. 2 - Labor Day Nov. 21 - 22 - Thanksgiving Holiday Dec. 24 - 25 - Christmas Holiday Dec. 31 - New Year’s Eve Jan. 1, 2014 - New Year’s Day

MORE EVENTS ONLINE AT CHAMPAIGNCOUNTY.ORG Information on ribbon cuttings, committee meetings, Business Success Seminars and more can be found online.

GET SALES. GET SAVINGS.

GET SEEN. ADVERTISING & SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: COMMERCE CONNECTION

From small town shops to hospitals, banks and colleges, the Chamber’s “Commerce Connection” gets great exposure in Champaign County. Distributed to over local 1,300 businesses, the “Commerce Connection” is a full-color, full-gloss publication produced bi-monthly.

Advertising in the “Commerce Connection” is a benefit of your Chamber membership. Place your ad today and get seen. Rates start at $90.*

E-CONNECTION

The Chamber’s electronic newsletter gets sent out to more than 4,500 businesses and businesspeople in Champaign County each week. Sponsor an e-Connection and get great local exposure.

Sponsorships start at $150.*

EMAIL FOOTER SPONSORSHIP

For only $75 your business can place a banner on every email that gets sent out of the Chamber office... including our e-Connection and all email blasts. That’s an average of over 16,000 emails per week.*

ONLINE DIRECTORY ENHANCEMENT

In addition to your FREE directory listing (included with your Chamber membership), you have the opportunity to enhance your listing into an eye-catching, search engine optimized advertisement. Enhancements start at $40.*

WEBSITE SPONSORSHIP

The Chamber is in the beginning stages of a website redesign project for 2013. There will be numerous opportunities for buinesses to sponsor pages, host banners and showcase themselves on the Chamber site.* *For more information on advertising and sponsorship opportunities, contact Nikolle Keeney at NikolleK@champaigncounty.org or 217.359.1791.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ATHENA Award Luncheon >> Award Sponsor >> Lapel Pin Sponsor

Come Wine With Us >> Food Vendor >> Booth sponsor

Business Expo >> Booth Rental >> Ultimate Power Lunch Sponsor >> Ultimate Power Lunch Vendor >> Wine Tasting Sponsor >> Media Sponsor

Annual Meeting >> Title Sponsorship >> Midlevel Sponsorship >> Table Sponsorship

Golf Outing >> Lunch Sponsor >> Dinner Sponsor >> Hole Sponsor >> Goodie Bag Donations

Business After Hours >> Hosting

Chamber Breakfasts >> Spring Sponsorship >> Fall Sponsorship

First Friday Coffee >> Hosting

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT No need to pay hundreds of dollars sending employees to training classes or to travel long distance to attend a professional development seminar-- the Chamber offers many training and certification courses in-house (...for much friendlier prices).

Business Success Seminars and professional development courses are advertised in the Chamber’s weekly e-newsletter as well as in the “Commerce Connection.” Stay tuned to your Chamber mailings for information on upcoming programs.

COMMUNITY WELCOME SERVICE Expose new Champaign County residents to your business. Within a few weeks of a newcomer’s relocation, a Welcome Service gift box will be sent to the household containing information about Champaign County as well as a gift box full of coupons, free gifts and brochures provided by the program’s sponsors. This is an essential time to position a business to a newcomer, as shopping loyalties have not yet been developed. For information on how your business can participate, contact Karly Combest at KarlyC@champaigncounty. org or 217.359.1791.

THE CHAMBER SUPPORTS YOUR BUSINESS The Champaign County Chamber of Commerce is an association of more than 1,300 area businesses that have joined together to advance the general welfare and prosperity of Champaign County. The Chamber speaks as a unified voice on issues concerning business and the economy. Active involvement in the Chamber provides many opportunities to articulate issues of importance to your business.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF OUR GREAT SERVICES & OPPORTUNITIES ENERGY CO-OP The Chamber has recently partnered with Fighting Illini Energy to bring members better savings on energy than ever before. Members utilizing the service save an average of 15 percent on their energy bills.

CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN & NOTARY SERVICE Offered free to members.

CONFERENCE ROOM RENTAL The Chamber’s office facility has three conference rooms available for members to reserve at no cost.

INFORMATION & ASSISTANCE Chamber staff handles an average of 100 calls a day, providing up-do-date business information and referrals and community data.

LCD PROJECTOR & LAPTOP USE Available for members to rent at no cost with a refundable security deposit.

SMALL BUSINESS COUNSELING East Central Illinois SCORE, a Chamber-affiliated organization, provides free one-on-one consultations for small and growing businesses.

COMMITTEE INVOLVEMENT Take an active role in the Champaign County business community by joining a Chamber committee.

Committees include: - Agribusiness - Ambassadors - Marketing - Public Policy - Event Support (more can be found on the Chamber’s website, champaigncounty.org)